This well known citizen of Sacramento county resides on his beautiful farm near the city of Sacramento, where he owns three hundred acres of land, to the cultivation of which he devotes his energies with excellent success. He is a native of the far-off land of Switzerland, his birth there occuring on the 14th of December, 1834, and his parents were Peter and Lucy Cippa, who also claimed that country as their native land.

Thomas Cippa spent the period of his boyhood and youth in the country of his nativity, there remaining until 1859, when he left the scenes of his childhood and went to Australia to engage in mining for gold. Seven years were spent in that country, on the expiration of which period, in 1866, he sailed for California, and on his arrival in the Golden state made his way at once to Sacramento county, where he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. For a number of years he farmed on the Gaggin Grant, but in 1876 came to the ranch which has ever since been his home and which is devoted to geneal dairy and farm pursuits. This valuable ranch consists of about three hundred acres of valuable and well improved land, and Mr. Cippa understands every detail of his business thoroughly and has every appliance for its successful conduct. For nearly a quarter of a century he has served as a trustee of the Oak Grove school district, and the cause of education has ever found in him a warm and devoted friend. He has been distinctively the architect of his own fortunes, for without pecuniary advantages at the commencement of life he has worked his way upward to his present position by sheer force of will and untiring effort. His political support is given to the Republican party, and he takes an active interest in all public affairs.

In 1871 Mr. Cippa returned to Switzerland, and was there married on the 9th of October of that year to Miss Mary Bernasouki, who was born in that country October 20, 1848. With his bride he returned to California in 1871, and the Golden state has ever since been his home. Eight children have been born to this union, but only six are now living, namely: John J., Frederick T., David, William P., Mary F. and Eva G., all residents of Sacramento county. Mrs. Cippa has proved a true helpmate to her husband, nobly assisting him in all his undertakings, and in the community where they have so long made their home they have many devoted friends.

Source: History of the New California - Its Resources and People, Volume II